Cornafean Naoimh Fionnain

In 1908, when John P. Johnson and his family moved from Killeshandra to Cornafean, he set about the establishment of a new club to be formed out of the old Killeshandra Leaguers and Cornafean Tom Moronies. The new club grew out of a meeting held at Farranseer in late 1908 and was called Cornafean Naoimh Fionnain. This was to be a significant milestone in the history of Co. Cavan football.

Just one year after the new club's foundation, Cornafean had won the county championship, the first of twenty championship titles. This was the beginning of the famous 'Reds'. Cornafean would dominate county football throughout the 1910's and even more so in the 1930's. During these years they gave the county players who made champions, so much so that the history of Cavan football during those years is largely the history of Cornafean. Even in the 20's and the 40's Cornafean were still a team to be reckoned with.

Cornafean won the championship again in 1910. They lost in 1911 but went on to win four championships in a row from 1912 to 1915. They won again in 1918 but that would be the last senior title they would win until 1928, when they defeated Maghera McFinns in the final. The defeated Cavan Slashers to win the 1929 title.

Cornafean, County Champions 1932 Back: F.McKiernan, J.Martin, P.J.O'Reilly, W.Young, P.Phair, T.Brady Middle: T.McCormack, P.Dinneny, J.Crotty, P.McCabe, B.Fay, M.Dinneny, T.O'Reilly, P.McSeain Front: F.Fitzpatrick, J.Masterson, J.Murphy, P.Masterson, J.Curran, B.Millar, E.O'Reilly

Their victory in 1932 would mark the beginning of a golden era that would last to 1940. During that time the club won eight county championship titles. The Cornafean team of the thirties was truly a star studded team with county players like Packie Phair, Mick Dinneny, Big Tom O'Reilly, Willie Young, John Joe O'Reilly and Packie Devlin. The success of the club attracted the best players from whole parish of Killeshandra and from the neighbouring parishes.

Victory in the 1943 championship would mark the end of this remarkable era. As the older players retired it was now Mullahoran's turn to dominate the county scene. Although Cornafean were still a force to be reckoned with they would have to wait thirteen years before they would win another county championship. In 1956 they defeated Bailieborough in the final. This would be their last senior championship victory and from that time the club went into decline as a footballing force within the county. It is also more than coincidental that the decline of Cavan county team also dates from that this point. Cavan is all the poorer of their going.

John Joe O'Reilly

On 21 November 1952 Commdt John Joe O'Reilly died unexpectedly at the Curragh Military Hospital. The son of John O'Reilly of the Derries, near Killeshandra, John Joe had learned his football with Cornafean and in St. Patrick's College where he played on the 1935, '36 and '37 winning McRory teams. In 1937 he joined his brother 'Big Tom' on the senior county team and played in 6 All-Ireland finals. He was captain of the victorious Cavan teams of 1947 and '48 and he won the admiration of all for his great powers of leadership. He also was a regular on the Ulster Railway Cup teams during the 'forties.

John Joe O'Reilly with the Sam Maguire Cup (1948)

Kevin Armstrong of Antrim described him as 'the finest all-round footballer of his generation'. Other tributes spoke of him as chivalrous, a supreme tactician, a man of great heart and absolute dedication, a trusted friend and teammate. No other person from Cavan in modern times has won such a permanent place in the memory of his own people. Almost 50 years later he is still remembered with pride and affection by Cavan people everywhere.

A funeral cortege of between two and three miles followed his coffin from Dublin to Cavan, along the same route that he had travelled in triumph with the Sam Maguire Cup in 1947 and 1948. The cortege paused at Breifne Park and the went on to Killeshandra, where his coffin was carried to the grave by his teammates. The last post and reveille sounded a salute and farewell to a dead soldier.

Canon James Sheridan blesses the memorial over the grave of John Joe O'Reilly in Killeshandra cemetry

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